Parliament has approved an amendment to the Water and Sewerage Act that will require all inhabited islands in the Maldives to have access to water and sanitation services by 2027.

The bill, submitted by Dhidhdhoo MP Abdul Latheef Mohamed, was passed with 61 members voting in favour and seven against, out of 68 members who took part in the vote. Its first reading was delivered in Parliament on 22 July.

The amendment extends the existing deadline set under the current Act, which was ratified in 2020. The law presently requires arrangements with state authorities to establish and operate a proper water supply system for each inhabited island within five years of its commencement. That timeframe is due to expire this year.

Under the revised provisions, the Utility Regulatory Authority will be tasked with setting standards for water testing services in laboratories established in the Maldives, based on the safety and quality of water released for public use. The Authority will also define the criteria for providing water testing services in these facilities.

Service providers will be required to submit an annual report at the end of each financial year, outlining a plan for service delivery in the year ahead and providing a performance review of services delivered in the previous year.

The amendments also introduce fines for certain offences. Misuse of water or sanitation systems may result in penalties of up to MVR 1 million, while acts causing contamination of the groundwater table may incur fines of up to MVR 100,000.

The amended Act will come into force once ratified by the President and published in the Government Gazette.